Centrifugally-actuated train-stop.



No. 897,321 PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1-908.

- J. B; STRUBLE.

OENTRIFITGALLY AGTUATED TRAIN STOP.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1908.

INVENTOR l Q2 (my UNI D William rarn rr cirrus;

JACOB B. STBl BLE, OF SViISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, .hSSlGNOR TO THE UNIONSWXTCH d: SlGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OFPENNSYL- VANIA.

ENTRIFUGALLY-AGTUATED TRAZN-STQP.

To'all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JACOB B. STRUBLE, of

Swissvale, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, have invented a new anduseful improvement in Centrifugally-Actuated Train- Stops,

of which the following is a full, clear, and exeffect the setting of thebrakes to either stop thetrain or decrease its speed.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple device of thischaracter which can be operated by either an alternating current or adirect current motor, which shall be selfcontained so that relativemovement may take lace between the ties to which it is sedescribed, itbeing premised, however, that various changes may be made therein bythose skilled in the a'rt without departing from my invention as definedin the appended claimsf In the drawing the numeral 2 designates thetrack-rails supported on the ties 3.

4 is a box or casing which is placed be tween, two adjacent tiesintermediate the rails, and preferably has a removable cover portion 5extending upwardly between the rails. The lower portion of thecasing hasa lateral extension 6 undern at-h one of the rails terminating in anupwardly extending portion 7. i

8 designates the movable track stop whose clear position is shown infull lines, and whose operative position is indicated by dotted V linesin the drawing. This stop is made hol- Specification oil Letters Patent.

Application filed April "I, 1988. Serial No. 4125,7531,

racemes se a 1, recs.

low and telescopically engages the upper portion of the upward extension7 of the casing upon which it is arranged toslide vertically.

' it is actuated by a rod 9 which QXtBi iiLlS downwardly into thelateral extension 6 of the casing, and is connected at its lower end toone arm of a lever 10 pivoted at ll and having an adjustablecounterweight 12 on its other and shorter arm.

13 designates the field element of an electric motor, which may be ofeither alternating or direct current ty e.

it is the armature o' the motor which has an upwardly extending sleeve15, to thev u per portion of which are attached the weight arms 16 of acentrifuge, which is in the form of an ordinary centrifugal ballgovernor. Extending upwardly through the sleeve 15 and through thehollow armature 14 isa rod 17' whose lower end is connected to theshortarm of the lever 10, and whose headed upper end is engaged by thevertically movable member 18 of the centriiu e.

The operation is as to ows:-When current is supplied to the motor,'itsrotation will cause the centrifuge to move the rod 17 upwardly into theposition shown in the drawing, thereby actuating the lever 10 andretracting the track stop 8 to the position shown in full-lines. Whenthe stop has thus been moved to clear position it will be held in thisposition without the consumption of anyenergy for a purpose other thanthat necessary to overcome the friction and other losses. When the motorceases to operate the counterweight 12 will restore the track stop toits operative position in which it is" normally held.

As shown, the armature of the motor is preferably placed in verticalposition so that its commutator, in case a direct current 1no-' tor isused, can be located at a convenient place for inspection. If the motoris designed to be operated by alternating current,

be surrounded by a closed conductor to set 11 the necessary rotatingfield to operate the armature. It will be understood, however,

that l do not limit myself to any particular type of motor for operatingthe centrifuge.

The counterweight 12; can be so adjusted as to put the stop in itslifting or engaging position just as soon as the power is cut off fromthe motor. By reason of the telescopic engagement of the stop with theupward extension of the inclosing casing, dirt, water, etc. are excludedfrom the casing. The apparatus is entirely self-contained so that it canbe adjusted as a whole between the ties to which it is secured withoutputting any of the moving parts out of proper alinement'. What I claimis 1. A track stop arranged to be moved into and out of operativeposition, ,a centrifuge for shifting the stop, and a motor for drivingthe-centrifuge; substantially as described.

2. A vertically movable train stop, a centrifuge arranged to shift saidstop from one position to another, a motor for driving the centrifuge,and means operating by gravity to shift the stop in the oppositedirection to that in which it is actuated by the centrifuge;substantially as described.

3. A track sto movable relatively to one of the track raifs, acentrifugal device for actuating said stop, a motor for driving thecentrifugal device, and means whereby when the motor ceases to act thestop will be shifted in the reverse direction; substantially asdescribed.

4. A vertically movable track sto actuating mechanism therefor, and acas ng inclosing said mechanism and having an upwardly extending portionthrough which the track stop is connected with the operating mechanismand which is telescopically engaged with the stop; substantiallyasdescribed.

5. A track stop having an inclosing casing provided. with a lateralextensionunderneath one of the track rails, and with an upward extensionat the outer side of said rail, a centrifuge for shifting the trackstop, and connections from the centrifuge to the track stop, saidconnections extending through the said lateral and upward extensions ofthe easing; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

JACOB B. STRUBLE.

